Curtain package



J. MILLER CURTAIN PACKAGE May 5, 1964 Filed Jan. 7, 1963 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofifice 3,131,81 l Patented May 5, 1964 3,131,811 CURTAIN PACKAGE Julius Miller, Brockton, Mass, assignor to Milham Products (30., Inc., Quincy, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Jan. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 249,662 6 Claims. (Cl. 20647) The present invention relates to means and methods for packaging non-self supporting sheet materials in substantially rigid packages and more particularly to packaging curtains and the like in conjunction with accessory curtain rods and the like to form unitary, complete, substantially rigid packages for merchandising purposes.

Curtains and curtain rods are frequently packaged separately and sold in separate areas of retail outlets. Thus, separate packages must be prepared for the curtains and the rods, or as is frequently done, the curtain rods are sold without packages. In the first instance, separate packaging creates doubled expense. Moreover, separately packed curtains without reinforcing packaging means are prone to allow wrinkling or folding of the curtain within the package upon handling and examination by shoppers. This is particularly troublesome in conventional packaging of plastic curtains which can be damaged by severe folding. In the second instance, when curtain rods are unpackaged, they create certain hazards in carrying relatively sharp pointed rods through crowded stores and streets. Moreover the rods are frequently elongated and clumsy to handle and carry.

It is anobject of this invention to provide a combined curtain and curtain rod package which is highly attractive and relatively compact permitting convenient and safe handling.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of forming a package in accordance with the preceding object wherein the package may be economically formed as a substantially rigid unit without the use of specially adapted reinforcing or stiffening members.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a package and method in accordance with the preceding objects wherein an outer transparent covering binds the curtains and curtain rods allowing inspection of the curtains for advertising and merchandising purposes. According to the invention, a conventional two-piece U-shaped curtain rod is separated and L-shaped halves or members of the rod are joined together at their ends to form a rectangular reinforcing packaging unit or frame. The L-shaped members are preferably joined by cellophane adhesive tape allowing ease of separation and reassembly of the curtain rod. A curtain or set of curtains comprising non-self supporting sheets positioned adjacent each other are positioned adjacent the rectangularly arranged packaging unit and folded about the unit into a compact substantially rigid package.

In the preferred form, a snug fitting transparent bag of plastic material is slid over and sealed on the combined package. Rufiles or other decorative means on the curtains are folded to present a neat, attractive appearance through the transparent bag.

It is a feature of this invention that the curtain rod itself provides stifiening properties to the package without further need for accessory stifiening or'reinforcing members. Thus, the cost of the substantially rigid package is minimized. Further, the curtains are retained in their folded form and cannot be bent or further folded during normal handling and examination by shoppers when the curtains are displayed in retail outlets.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set of curtains and curtain rod arranged together prior to folding of the curtains.

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the completed combined curtain and curtain rod package; and,

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view thereof taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

With reference now to the drawings and particularly FIG. 2, a combined curtain and curtain rod package 31 is shown. The outer layer or covering means for the package 31 is preferably a transparent plastic bag 18 which snugly fits about the folded curtains and curtain rod as will be described. Transparent bag 18 preferably has a single opening at one end which is closed by flap 19. The flap 19 is preferably sealed to a side of the bag by cellophane adhesive tape 20. The particular outer covering means may vary and in place of the bag 18 a single layer of cellophane or other transparent plastic may be folded into place and fastened by conventional gluing or adhesive means. In some cases opaque outer coverings may be employed when it is not necessary to expose the curtains to the shoppers eye.

At least one, and preferably a group of curtains 21 and 22 are folded about a stiffening packaging unit 23 and are snugly contained within the transparent bag 18. The packaging unit 23 comprises a conventional curtain rod having two substantially similar L-shaped rigid curtain rod halves or members 3 and 4. Preferably member 3 is slightly smaller in cross section than curtain rod member 4 and is adapted to have in-turned lips 32 slide within in-turned lips 34 of the member to form a conventional U-shaped rod. The members 3 and 4 have right-angled arms 5, 6 and 7, 8 respectively. The curtain rod is separated into its two members which are joined together at their ends, as shown in FIG. 1, to form the planar, continuous rectangular packaging unit 23. Preferably Scotch cellophane tape or other adhesive tape 10 is used to join end portions of the members which abut each other. The rectangular packaging unit acts as an ideal stiffening means and rigid frame for the curtains, as will be described. Although the Scotch tape 10 does not provide a strong, solid joint, it does provide a fairly rigid joint and holds the curtain rod members in the desired position as shown in FIG. 1, during the normal display and merchandising of the completed package. In addition the relatively sharp ends of the rod are covered by the Scotch tape which prevents the ends from tearing or snagging on the enclosed thin plastic curtains.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the package 31 is composed of a cottage set with a canopy valance. The invention may also be used to package single curtains or other curtain sets such as draperies, valance and tier sets, etc. In the preferred embodiment the curtains are made of thin, pliable, plastic sheets having decorative overprints. The packaging unit prevents sharp fold lines from being formed in the thin plastic sheets during formation of the package since the curtain rods have substantial width (normally at least /2 inch).

'the position shown in FIG. 1.

Thus, rounded fold corners are formed which do not tend to stress or permanently deform the plastic sheets.

In forming a package a valance curtain 22 is located on a flat surface in a generally rectangular form, as shown in FIG. 1, having a ruffled longitudinally extending edge portion 16. The edge portion 16 may comprise any decorative means or in some cases may be a plain edge which is merely an extension of the curtain material. A second curtain 21 is then placed. on top of the first curtain in The second curtain is preferably a curtain which is adapted to cover the lower portion of the window and is preferably generally rectangular in shape. Preferably the second curtain 21 is displaced slightly from both the milled edge portion 16 of the first curtain 23, and one extreme outer edge 24 of the first curtain as shown in FIG. 1. The top of curtain 21 comprising portion 15 which. has a rufiie 15 is located so that rutfle 15 is normal to rufiie portions 16 of curtain 22.

- In normal usage the first curtain 22 actually comprises two separate rectangular curtains which are identical to each other and positioned one on top of another in planar relationship. The second curtain 21 is similarly composed of two curtains placed one on top of the other in planar relationship so that in viewing the completed set they appearrto have only two separate sheets although four sheets or curtains are shown in FIG. I.

Preferably outer longitudinally extending edges 13 and 13a of curtain 21 are folded or flapped over to form a rectangular outer peripheral edge. for the second curtain 21 which enhancesease of packaging.

The group .of curtains shown in FIG. 1 presents four major peripheral edges, i.e. the decorative edge 16, end edge 24, side edge 25 and a second end edge 26, Portions 12, 14,13 and 15, of the second curtain 21 and portions 16 and 17 of the first curtain 22 extend beyond the peripheral edge of the packaging unit or frame 23. The unit 23 is preferably located centrally on curtain 21 with its longitudinally extending sides 6 and 8 parallel to rufiled edge portion '16.

The completed package 31 is formed by first folding edge 25 of flap 13 over the packaging unit 23. Ruflie edge portion 16 and portion 12 are-then folded over the previous folded portion presenting a single longitudinally extending ruflie 16 on the face of the package as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the ruflied portion 16 hides the portion 12 which is normally not decorated. End portions 15, 17 and 14 are then folded under the package asshown by the arrows inFIG. 1. This folding arrangement is further illustrated in FIG. 3 showing a cross sectional view with ends ofthe curtains illustrated. The folded curtains and curtain rod may then be slipped into the tightly fitting transparent bag.1 8 as above described.

If desired, additional rufiles, additional curtain rods,.or small curtain pieces which make up a set of curtains to be packaged may be placed within the packaging unit 23 prior to foldingof the curtains so that they may be encased and hidden from view when the completed package is formed.

It is evident that those skilled in the art may now make numerous modifications and departures from the specific embodiment described herein without departing from the inventive concepts. For example, the numberof curtains to be packagedmay vary. Preferably only a single curtain rod and single set of curtains is included in the package. However, plural curtain rods may be formed into rectangular packaging units and plural curtains folded thereabouts. Textile fabrics and various configurations may be used for the curtains to be packaged. Consequently,rthe breadth of this invention is to be construed as limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: p

1. A combined curtain and curtain rod package-comprising a first right angle curtain rod member,

a second right angle curtain rod member adapted to be slidably joined to said first rod member to form a single U-shaped curtain rod,

said first and second curtain rod members arranged in end to end relationship forming a rectangular packaging unit,

means for releasably joining said curtain rod members in said end to end relationship,

curtains comprising a non-self supporting sheet,

said curtains enclosing and folded tightly about said unit to form a package,

said folded curtains defining an outer peripheral rectangular edge closely surrounding said rectangular unit whereby said unit acts as a" rigid reinforcing means for said curtains.

2. A curtain and curtain rod package in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising a covering means surrounding and enclosing said folded curtains.

3. A combined curtain and curtain rod package comprising a first curtain rod-half having an 'L-shaped configuration,

a second curtain rodhalf having an L-shaped configuration, said curtain rod halves adapted to be slidably joined to each other to form a single generally U-shaped curtain rod, 7

said first and second curtain rod halves arranged in end-to-end relationship forming a planar, rectangular packingunit,

means joining ends of said first curtain rod to ends of said second rod half whereby said packaging unit is substantially rigid,

curtains comprising a group having a first substantially rectangular curtain and a second substantially rectangular curtain overlapping said first curtain,

each of said curtains comprising a non-self supporting sheet,

said curtains enclosed and folded tightly about said unit and a covering means fitting over said curtains and enclosing said curtains to form said package. 4. A combined cuntainand curtain rod package comprising a first right angled curtain mod member,

a second right angle nod member adapted to be slidably joined to and said first rod member to form a single U-shaped rod,

said first and second curtain rod members arranged in end to end relationship forming a rectangular packaging means for releasably joining said curtain rod members in said end to end relationship, I

curtains comprising a group of curtainsenclosing and folded tightly about said unit and having rounded fold lines,

one of said curtains comprising a decorative edge portion said decorative edge portions forming an outermost fold of said group in said package and said folded cuntains defining an outer peripheral [rectangular edge closely surrounding and supported by said packaging unit whereby said unit acts as a rigid reinforcing means for said curtains,

and a covering means covering and binding together said folded curtains about said packaging unit to form said combined curtains and nod package.

5. A combined curtain and curtain rod package in ac cordance with claim 4 wherein each of said first and second curtain rod members comprise longitudinally extending, inturned lips adapted to slidably engage one another and said covering means comprising a transparent plastic bag.

6. A combined and curtain rod package comprising,

a plurality of rigid cuntain'rod members having right angles formed therein, r I

Y means securing said curtain rod members together to form a continuous frame,

and a non-self-supporting curtain folded about said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Johnson Jung 22, 1920 6 King Ian. 21, 1936 Moriarty Aug. 22, 1939 Maves June 9, 1942 Murphy May 1,v 1945 Norensky Apr. 27, 1954 Hopper Oct. 18, 1955 Home Feb. 4, 1958 Zerbe Mar. 6, 1962 

1. A COMBINED CURTAIN AND CURTAIN ROD PACKAGE COMPRISING A FIRST RIGHT ANGLE CURTAIN ROD MEMBER, A SECOND RIGHT ANGLE CURTAIN ROD MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE SLIDABLY JOINED TO SAID FIRST ROD MEMBER TO FORM A SINGLE U-SHAPED CURTAIN ROD, SAID FIRST AND SECOND CURTAIN ROD MEMBERS ARRANGED IN END TO END RELATIONSHIP FORMING A RECTANGULAR PACKAGING UNIT, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY JOINING SAID CURTAIN ROD MEMBERS IN SAID END TO END RELATIONSHIP, 